Distributer device for ignition apparatus



APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, I917.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENToI-"Flc -i.

onvnn r. CONKLIN, or DETROIT, moment, AssIGNon To any ELECTRIC GOMPAN Y,OF ANDERSON, INDIANA,

A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

DISTBIIBUTER DEVICE FOR IGNITION} #PARATUS.

Application filed April 4, 1917. seam. 159.689.

' To all whom it may concern. 3

Be it known that I, OLIVER- F. CoNKLIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates,-residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, and State ofMichirelatesto improvements in devices for attaching the high tension cables to theterminal posts. This present invention provides a device of suchcharacter that the leads or cables can be attached and detached withfacility and without preparing or stripping the ends of the leads-orattaching fastening terminals thereto as isthe customary practice. Otherimprovements reside in the provision of certain novel arrange ments ofparts whereby the cost of manufacture of such devices is decreased.

Further improvements reside in a novel arrangement of the distributerposts or pins whereby these pins may be made of 'a relativelynon-corrodible and non-pitting metal which is relatively expensive andwhereby the terminal posts and parts which lead the high tension currentto the leads may be made of a more inexpensive material. Another objectof the present invention resides in the provision of a distributersegment which is so balanced that at high rotational speeds there is nbtendency for the distributersegment to draw its shaft to one side of thebearing and thereby cause incorrect timing of the ignition. Furtherobjects of the invention reside in the improvement of the details ofconstruction of the distributer segment which allows a single segmentblock to be used for various sizes and types of apparatus therebycheapening the cost of manufacture.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in detail hereafterin the appended specification and more particularly defined in theappended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows one form of the invention, certainportions of the dis-- fication in which a screw threaded member is usedto secure the wire in place.

Fig. 3 is an interior view of the distributer cap shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows in central cross sec ion, the' 'distributer segment shownin elevation in Fig. 1. a I

Figs. 5 6, and 7 show modifications ofithe distributing post'portions ofthe device and show various ways in which various forms of distributerposts may be used with the cable securing devices of Figs. 1 and 2.

Specification Letters rare t: Patented Fig. 8 shows another modifiedmethod of securing a cable to the distributor cap.

Fig, 9 shows in cross section "a cable within the distributer sleeve andshows the co operation of the locking rin w 'Figs. 10, 11, and 12 showdetails of the balanced distributer segment shown in ele vation in Fig.1.

In more detail, in Fig. 1, 10 is the body of the distributer and maybe'of bakelite, conden'site, or other plastic molded composition, butpreferably the body is molded from one of the condensation productsofphenol which have desirable characteristics for devices of this sort.Projecting upward the body portions are cylindrical sleeves 11 taperedat the outside. and having an interior diameter of such size as toreceive the leads 12 with a snuglfit. The number of these sleeves 11depends upon the number of cylinders to which current is distributed.The

other sleeves are disposed concentrically about sleeve 13.

Gable securing devices.

Co axial with sleeves lland l3 and molded in the bakelitc are taper pins14 which project. up into the hollow centerof the sleeves in such amanner as to pierce and wedge into the braided wires 15 forming theconductor within the insulated leads. The wedging action also causes thecable to be expanded within the sleeve, thereby producing a water-proofjoint. In order to secure the leads in place there is provided a lockingring 16 which is crimped into place at the proper point upon the outsideof the lead before the cable is inserted in its sleeve. As the of thecable is somewhat tion. The fastening of the central lead is carried outin a similar manner. It is apparent that the locking rings 16 and thepins 14 cooperate together to hold thecables in place in the socketssincethe spreading action of the tapered pins causes the insulationsurrounding the cable members to be forced against the locking rings, aswell. as against the walls of the sleeves,

With the construction described, it will be apparent that the lead wirescan be attached with facility to the distributer. necessary toterminals,b t, on the contrary, the wire is cut ofi' squarely to the properlength, the loo-king ring applied, and the cable forced down until itbottoms in the hollow sleeve and the locking ring snaps in place. Toremove the cables they are given a sharp pull which contracts thelockmgring and permits the cables to pass without the sleeve.

Distfibuten post construction.

' In the construction shown in Fig. 1, an L shaped distributer plate isprovided. This plate is slightly curved,.as shown in Fig. 3. These postsare molded into the bakelite and are drilled to receive the taper pins.The pins fit tightly in the holes preferably with a driving .fit,thereby establishing a good electrical connection. The posts18 arepreferably made of a non-corrodible or non-pitting metal, for example,Monel metal.

At the center of the distributer the tapered pin passes through a metalblock 19 which is crimped over toretainthe usual carbon contact button20.

With the construction shown in Fig, 5,

the taper pin fits tightly into a hole in a plate 24, which may be ofbrass or steel, and th1s plate in turn carries a round pin 25 of Monelmetal or other suitable materiaLJ In the construction shown inFig. 6 thedistributer post comprises a Z shaped plate 26 having one end extendinginto and molded into the bakelite and with the depending lower enddisposed for cooperation with the distributer segment. The tapered pinis used as heretofore.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2 for i the tapered lpin there issubstituted a wood screw 27 wh ch is passed through a recess 28 in theinterior of the distributer block, and

through an aperture in L shaped distributer post 18. By the applicationof a screw driver the screw 27 can be threaded into the strands 15 ofthe lead 12 thereby establishing a good, electrical connection andsecur- It is not 5 strip theends or apply screw post 18 in theform ofaing the lead in place in the sleeve. In this figure the center sleeve13 shows a wood screw 29 passed through the side of the sleeve into thecable and thereby retaining the cable in place. In this construction n oaxial cable piercing or'wedging member is used, but such a constructioncould be employed, if desired.

Fig. 7 shows thescrew construction combined with the intermediate'plateand pin described previously for the construction shown in Fig. 5. I I 1-Fi 8 shows a construction in which the distributer plate or post 30extends up into the side of the sleeve 11, and cooperates with aset-screw 31. which extends into the side of. the sleeve.

the distributer post 30. I may. also use here the form of screw shown at29 in Fig. 2. Balanced distm'buten segment.

As methods of distributing current in devices such as this are wellknown little explanation is necessary. In Fig. 1, 35 is an engine shaft,36 a primary circuit breaking cam carrying a pin 37 whlch projects intoa hole in the movable distributer member or segment block 21, 22 is ablade spring cooperating with button 20 andin electrical connection withsegment 23, from which the current passes to the successive distributerposts 18 upon the rotation of the segment by the shaft. On account ofthe high rotational speed of shaft .35' the unbalanced weight of thedistributer parts tend to move the shaft 35 in the bearings therebychanging the position of cam 36 and thereb changing the time ofignition. To obviate these difiiculties I balance the segment andsegment block.

Segment block 21 is preferably molded of the same material as thedistributer' body and has integral therewith a smaller extension 21.

To this extension the novel metal distributer segment 23is. fastened bya screw 38, said screw also serving to. retain spring 22 in place. Thesegment is also slotted to receive the end of the spring and aid inretaining the same in position. The segment member 23 can be removed andother segments of different sizes and shapes substituted, depending.upon the requirements of the ignition system.

The segment block 21 has molded in the lower surface thereof a plate 39.Both block and plate are drilled at 35 and 37 to receive the shaft 35and the pin 37'respectively. The position of the hole 37 may bedifferent for different apparatus.

in a special drill jig, corresponding to the type referred to, which isprovided with means for properly locating the hole 37 and a spottinghole 40' in alinement with the hole 37,

block 21. Both of these holes may be drilled during the same operation,and the.

result will be a properly located hole 37 drilled through the plate 39-and part way through the block 21, and a spotting hole 40 in alinementwith the hole 37, as explained. The hole 40 will come opposite. one ofthe characters of the indicia 41, and as illustrated, the spot 40 hasbeen located opposite the indicia characters 8-4 and T-G, thusindicating that the block 21 has been-drilled for use with the type S4or T-(i seg v ment, and the arrow nearestthe spot 40 indi: 'catesthecorrectdirection of rotation.

It will be understood that one of the purposes of plate 39 is tocounter-balance the weight of the distributer segment disposed upon theopposite side'of the shaft, andthat I therefore contemplate the use ofdifferent thicknesses of plates or different weights of segments.

Another purpose of 'the plate 39 is to provide a section of metalthrough which the drill will first pass on drilling the holes 35 and 37,before running into the molded material of which the block 21 iscomposed. The presence of the metal plate insures a more accurate holeand prevents the molded material from chipping off around the edges I ofthe hole.

By the construction just explained one mold may be used for all sizesand types of I distributers and variations may be made by moldingindifferent weights of plates and attaching different weights, sizes ortypes of segments thereto.

It will be understood that the present-invention is susceptible ofvarious modifications, as will occur to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as my'invention is more particularly pointedout in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a distributer, the combination with a movable distributer member;of a dis-' tributer body having'a plurality of cable-l. receivingsleeves projecting from the exterior of the body and formed integrallytherewith; V distributer posts fixed therein and projecting from thesurface of the body to cooperate with the movable member; and pointedconductors passing through the body and the posts and projecting intothe sleeves,

but on the opposite side of the uter body having a plurality bf cablereceivmg sleeves formed integrally therewith; distributer postsprojecting from the sleeves of the body and having right-angled portionsembedded in the material of the body; and pointed conductors passingthrough the body and the posts and projecting into the sleeves, andadapted to be forced into the strands composing the conducting portionof the cables when the latter are forced into the sleeves, and adaptedto wedge the cables in said sleeves.

3. In a distributer, thecombination with a movable distributer member,of a distributer body having a plurality of cable receiving sleevesformed integrally therewith;

-shaped distributer posts secured in the body with one arm of the Lprojecting from thesu'rface of the body to cooperate with the movablemember; and tapered pin conductors passing through the body and theother elements of the L-shaped posts and project ing into the sleeves,and adapted to be forced into the strands composing the conductingportion of the cables, when the latter are forced into the sleeves, andadapted to wedge the cables in said sleeves.

4. In a distributer, the combination with a movable distributer member;of a' distributer body having a plurality of cable receiving sleevesprojecting from the exterior thereof and formed integrally therewith,each sleeve being adapted to receive an insulatedstranded cable; andsmooth wedging conducting members each projecting from the bottom of asleeve and adapted to enter into the strands of a cable, and to forcethe same apart and to wedge the conductor in a sleeve, said wedgingmembers permitting removal and replacement of the cables without tearingthe strands of the conducting a movable distributer member; of adistributer body, having a plurality of cable receiving sleevesprojecting from the exterior thereof and formed integrally therewith,each sleeve being adapted to receive an insulated stranded cable; smoothwed ing conducting members each projecting from the bottom of a sleeveand adapted to enterinto the strands of a cable and to force the sameapart and to wedge the conductor in a sleeve, said wedging memberspermitting removal and replacement of the cables without tearing thestrands of the conducting portions thereof, while said wedging membersremain in the sleeve; and

'means in each sleeve cooperatin formed integrall tributer body having ain the sleeves with the wall thereof and with the insulatlon of saidcable to assist in securing the cable' in the sleeve. e

6. In a distributer, the combination with a distributer member and adistributer body having a plurality of cable receiving sleeves ytherewith, said sleeves each being provided with a groove;-ins u- WIIG'lated cables entering said sleeves; split expanding rings surroundingthe insulated portions of. the cables and entering grooves in thesleeves; and tapered pin conductors mounted in the body and projectinginto the sleeves and into the stranded'wire portion of the cables toefiect an electrical connection therewith and to provide a communicationbetweenthe cables and the mov-- able distributer -member, saldconductors also cooperating with the split rings to wedge the cables inthe sleeves.

a movable distributer member; of a. displurality of cable receivingsleeves formed integrally therewith, eachof said sleeves being providedwith a groove insulated cables entering the sleeves; split 'wireexpanding rings surrounding the insulated ends of the cables andentering said grooves in the sleeves and adapted by their engagementsulation of the cables and with the rooves to retain the cables in saidsleeves; and provisions mounted in the body for effecting acommunication between the contacting portions of the cables and themovable distributer member, said cables being removable from the socketswithout disturbing said Provisions.

8. In a distributer, the combination with a body portion having aplurality of dis-' tributer posts mounted therein; of a distributerdriving member having a locating and driving pin; a movable distributermember comprising a rotatably mounted block of insulating material, aconducting segment member secured at one end of the block and upon onesurface thereof, and.

a counter-balancing plate secured at the other end and upon the oppositesurface of .said block, said counter-balancing plate also serving as areinforcing member through which holes may be drilled for locating theblock upon the distributer. driving member.

9. In a distributer, the combination with a body portion having aplurality of distributer posts mounted therein; a distributer drivingmember including an eccenthe tributer posts" mounte 7. In a distributer,the combination with' tributer driving member having locating with thein trically mounted driving pin; of a mov- .able distributer membercomprising a block of molded insulating-material, said block beingadapted to support any one of a series apparatus with which thedistributer-ls to be used, said block having .provisions permitting theforming of a hole in said block for cooperation with said driving pinina certain one ofla series of positions, said block having provisionspermitting the locating thereon of an indicating mark corresponding tothelocation of said hole, and said block having indicia formed thereinin proximity to the portion of the block provided for theindicatingmark, the indexnearest the indicating mark indicating the type ofapparatus with which the block is to be used;

l '10. In a distributer the combination with .a body portion havingi aplurality of distherein; of a disand driving provisions; a movabledistributer member comprising a block of insulating material, said blockbeing adapted to support any one of a set of distributer segmentsdepending on visions may be formed whereby the driving engagement withthe distributer driving member may be effected in a certain one of aseries of positions depending on the type ofapparatus with which thedistributer is used, said reinforcing member serving also asacounter-balance for said segment.

11. In a distributer, the combination with a body portion having aplurality of stationary distributer elements mounted therein; ofadistributer drivingmember having a locating and driving element; a mov-.able distributermember having provisions whereby said member maybelocated with respect to said locating and driving element in a certainone of a series of positions and ,adapted to carry a certain one of aseries of ber is provided with the said locating provisions, the saldnearest adjacent index indicating the type of apparatus with which thedistributer member isto be used.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

OLIVER F. CONKLIN.

the type of apparatus with which the distributer is used, and said blockhaving a reinforcing member in which pro-

